Aboriginal Health Research Strategy

The Office of Indigenous Strategy and Leadership is currently piloting the development of a strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research for the Hunter, New England and Central Coast Regions.

The new strategy will ensure that health benefits promised by researchers are implemented back into our communities. The purpose of this innovative strategy is to ensure our mob have a say on who, what and where research is conducted, how we use it and store it.

All research projects conducted by and through the University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, and our local health districts must be approved by the Aboriginal Health Research Community Panel before commencement. The Aboriginal Health Research Community Panel comprises of a diverse group of local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders with expertise to provide essential cultural and community oversight to all research conducted. This will ensure research is ethically sound, culturally appropriate, locally relevant and has real potential to benefit the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

The strategy will provide a vehicle to empower local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to lead and participate in Health Research. It will flip the power dynamic in existing research and ensure power (research direction and topics, funds and decision making) will be held by Indigenous peoples.

The panel considers applications relating to research that may affect the health and well-being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

The project should involve research in, or concerning, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people living in the Hunter/New England region.

An application should be made for research for which any one of the following applies:

  • The experience of Aboriginal people is an explicit focus of all or part of the research;
  • Data collection is explicitly directed at Aboriginal peoples;
  • Aboriginal peoples, as a group, are to be examined in the results;
  • The information has an impact on one or more Aboriginal communities;
  • Aboriginal health funds are a source of funding.

As per AH&MRC (Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW) requirements.

Please email AHR@newcastle.edu.au to request an application form.

All applications must be received by 11:59pm on the closing date

The Aboriginal Health Research Community Panel currently meets on the last Friday of each month .

Meeting dateApplication deadline
23 Feb 202412 Feb 2024
28 Mar 202418 Mar 2024
26 Apr 202415 Apr 2024
31 May 202420 May 2024
28 Jun 202417 Jun 2024
26 Jul 202415 Jul 2024
30 Aug 202419 Aug 2024
27 Sep 202416 Sep 2024
25 Oct 202414 Oct 2024
29 Nov 202418 Nov 2024

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and research are a whole of university commitment - it is everyone’s responsibility.

This strategy is an on-going collaboration and will constantly evolve to reflect our community needs. It is subject to change.

Download PDF (5.1 MB)

Image of the cover of the Research our Way strategy document
Research our Way Draft Strategy

‘Research Our Way’ – Aboriginal Health Research Strategy

Community members and top medical bodies across the Hunter and New England regions have joined forces in a powerful bid to improve First Nations health outcomes. ‘Research Our Way’ – a collaborative strategy between the University of Newcastle, Awabakal Limited, the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and the Hunter New England Local Health District – aims to set a new standard for the national tertiary sector. The purpose is to ensure our mob have a say on who, what and where research is conducted, how we use it and store it.

For enquiries please contact

Yeena Thompson